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J. T. KETTOHLEDGE. Combined Track Gage and Level.

No.'227,791. I Pate'hted May1s,1s8 0.

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' 'gWZ'dJ JE MJ F NJETERS, PHOTO-UTMOBRAPHER, WASHINGTON D. Q

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES T. KETGHLEDGE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF OF HIS RIGHT TO ENOS .P. ROBINSON, OF SAME PLACE.

COMBINEDTRACK GAGE AND LEVEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 227,791, dated May 18, 1880.

Applicationfiled January 21, 1880.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES T. KETGHLEDGE, of Dayton, in the county of Montgomery and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful lmprovementsin Combined Track Gages and Levels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.

My invention relates to an improved combined gage and level for laying and repairing railroad-tracks. Y

The device consists, essentially, of a gage-bar with adjusting feet, and carrying a graduated index-plate, to which is applied a weighted l 5 bell-crank pointer or indicator, theparts being so arranged that in laying or repairing tracks the rails can be laid accurately and equidistantly, and in determining the outer elevation of a curve the index and dial will take the place of a plumb-line and rule.

The novelty consists in the construction and combination of the devices employed, as will be herewith set forth and specifically claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is 2 5 a front elevation of my improved gage and level. Fig. 2is a plan view of the same.

A represents a wooden or metal bar of suit-' able dimensions, carrying at one end the metal foot or bracket piece B, of the shape represented, and at the other end the metal foot 0, having two rests or supports, a, and between them a vertical pendant, b, as shown.

Attached in any suitable manner to the bar A is a vertical plate, 1), with a graduated seg- 3 5 ment, 0, at one side and a slotted bracket or standard, d, at the other. These three pieces D, c, and (1 may be integral if desired. Pivoted so as to swing freely in the slot of the bracket 61 is a bell-crank pointer, consisting of a horizontal finger, c, and a vertical arm, f, upon the lower end of which a laterally-adjustable weight, g, is attached by means of a set-screw inserted through a horizontal slot, as shown in Fig. l, where h is the pivot.

A guide-strip, E, attached to the plate D, 5 incloses the finger e, as shown, and serves to protect it from injury.

This gage is intended for use in laying and repairing railroad-tracks, and not only gives the level of the road and the elevation of the outer rail in curves, but also regulatesthe distance apart of the rails. By making the feet on one side wide and some distance apart it is rendered impossible to apply the gage to the track at other than a radius to the curve or than to a right angle to the line of the rails.

When the track is level the finger 6 will point to the zero or center mark upon the scale t. In determining the elevation of the outer rail, as in curves, an elevation of the bar at either end will be accurately indicated by the finger upon the index, which may be divided and subdivided as desired.

The bar A may be made extensible, if wished,

so as to suit the device to various. gages 0f track,'a-nd by making the weight upon the pointer adjustable any expansion or contraction of the linger which would tend to destroy its equilibrium can be compensated for.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim- The bar A, provided with gaging-feet for embracing the rails, and also carrying a vertical index and loosely-pivoted bell-crank pointer having an adjustable weight secured to its lower end, the whole constructed and arranged as and for the purpose specified.

Witness my hand this 6thday of December,

JAMES T. KETUHLEDGE.

Witnesses PATRICK H. GUNOKEL, I CHAS. M. PEoK. 

